Three Arrows

Bible Reading:
1 Samuel 20: 1-23

Text verse:
1 Samuel 20:20 KJV 
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof,
as though I shot at a mark.

Jonathan says to David that he will shoot three arrows
as if he was shooting at a target!
Today, I want to examine those Three arrows
and what they really meant!

A Bow and arrows is normally a weapon of war and destruction!
A Weapon meant to injure or kill!
We read:
1 Samuel 18:4 KJV 
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe
that was upon him, and gave it to David,
and his garments, even to his sword,
and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Today, I want to remind you:
Ephesians 6:12 KJV 
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.

For this reason the Word of God says:
Ephesians 6:16 KJV 
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Friends, the Bible says further:
 John 10:10 KJV 
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.

The thief – the devil – that old snake sends his arrows.
Arrows of sickness – temptation to each of us!
Arrows of Death!
But Friend, remember this:

James 4:7 KJV 
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We can withstand the devil by taking up the Shield of Faith!
Luke 1:37 KJV 
For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Hebrews 13:8 KJV 
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Acts 10:38 KJV 
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with power: who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with him.

Jonathan uses a weapon – a weapon that is normally
used to do harm to others – a weapon of war!
To tell David three things!

We also know:
Romans 8:28 KJV 
And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
 
THE FIRST ARROW.
The first arrow told David that Jonathan cared about him!
It was an arrow that was aimed to show love!

Friends, this is also the first arrow that the Church must aim
at the World – so that all may know:

John 3:16 KJV 
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Friend, the Lord loves each one of us!
This Bible is God’s Love letter to a lost World.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.

The first arrow shot was an arrow of love!
Church we must also let this world know
that God loves each of us!
 
THE SECOND ARROW
It was Jonathan’s love for David that made him shoot
the second arrow!

The second arrow was to remind David of the danger
that lurked about!
Saul, the King wanted to kill David!

Friends, do we love enough -
Friends, do we love our children enough -
to warn them of the dangers of sin?
 
Listen to what the Bible says:
Romans 6:23 KJV 
For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Listen further to the Words of the Bible:
Hebrews 12:14 KJV 
Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord.

Paul warns us:
Ephesians 5:18 KJV 
And be not drunk with wine,
wherein is excess;
but be filled with the Spirit;

We must not walk, talk or act as a drunk man!
A Christian walks talks and acts differently as the world.
 
Although, this second arrow was shot to warn -
We must never forget that the first arrow was shot
to remind us that someone cared – in was shot in love!
Although the Lord warns us – we must remember that
God offers and grants us forgiveness of sins!
 
THE THIRD ARROW.
But what of the third arrow?
1 Samuel 20:37 KJV 
And when the lad was come to the place
of the arrow which Jonathan had shot,
Jonathan cried after the lad, and said,
Is not the arrow beyond thee?

Is the arrow not beyond you?
This was the sign that David must flee in haste!

Do you remember what Jonathan had said to David earlier?
1 Samuel 20:3 KJV 
And David sware moreover, and said,
Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace
in thine eyes; and he saith,
Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved:
but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth,
there is but a step between me and death.

Friends, we must also look beyond the now!
Listen to the Words of the Bible:
Hebrews 9:27 KJV 
And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgment:

Friend, have you looked beyond this world?
Friend, Where will you spend Eternity?

Hebrews 2:3 KJV 
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
 
Have you looked beyond the now?
Jesus said:
John 14:6 KJV 
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.

Acts 16:31 KJV 
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
 
IN CLOSING.
Three arrows left the Bow:
The arrow of love.
The arrow of warning
and finally the arrow that says:
Look further – look beyond!

I am pleading with you, today:
Look beyond the present – look further!
Where will you spend Eternity?